Multiple-unit muffin pan



June 1952 H. L. M CLAIN ETAL MULTIPLE-UNIT MUFFIN PAN Filed Jan. 27, 1951 INVENTOR. HAROLD l M C, L AIN DOROTHY J- MCCLAIN ATTORNEYS Patented June 10, 1952 OFFICE MULTIPLE-UNIT MUFFIN PAN Harold L. McClain and Dorothy J. McClain, Walnut Creek, Calif.

Application January 27; 1951, Serial No. 208,158

The present invention relates to a multipleunit muffin pan. It pertains to the class of culi-- nary utensils used for baking muflins, or other small cakes. The invention consists of the combinations, constructions, and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of our invention is to provide a multiple-unit muflin pan, which is made up of a plurality of baking units that may be readily connected together. Thus, baking units may be added, or removed, in order to afford the desired number of baking receptacles. It is a wellknown fact that the empty or unused receptacles will char when the pan is subjected to a baking heat. We overcome this charring, or scorching, of the pan by eliminating those receptacles that are not required for aparticular baking operation.

Moreover, we propose to provide a mufiln pan of the character described,.which is simple in construction, durable and sturdy for the purpose intended, and readily assembled or disassembled. The units are adapted to be nested one within the other when they are disconnected so as to occupy a small storage space. The parts are made for easy cleaning thereof.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds, and the novel features of the invention will be pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

Drawing For a better understanding of our invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of our multiple-unit muflinpan;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view thereof;

Figures 3 and 4 are vertical sectional views taken along the planes IIIIII and IV-IV, respectively, of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line V-V of Figure 4, illustrating terminal and central baking units being connected together; and

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 after the two units have been interconnected.

While we have shown only the preferred form of our invention, it should be understood that various changes, or modifications, may be made within the scope of the annexed claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

Detailed description Referring to the drawing, it will be noted that Figures 1 and 2 disclose a muffin pan composed of a central baking unit A and a pair of terminal baking units B and C. As the specification continues, it will be apparent that the number of these units may be increased, or decreased to meet the baking requirements.

In its structural features, thecentral unit A includes a top plate It! having-mufiin receptacles ll formed integral therewith. Also, lateral marginal flanges l2 extend downwardly from opposing sides of the central unit, with these flanges sloping downwardly and outwardly relative to the top platei The left-hand marginal section Illa of this top plate is ofiset downwardly, as disclosed in Figures 3 and 4. Conical-shaped sockets M are fashioned in the offset section Illa, with these sockets opening upwardly.

It will be observed from Figures 4 to 6, inclusive, that the lateral marginal flanges I2 are creased to define vertically-extending ribs 15 at the lower portions of these flanges. In order to strengthen the flanges 12, they are turned back upon themselves, as at l2a (see Figures 3 and 4).

The terminal baking unit B is provided with a top plate IS in which mufiin receptacles I! are fashioned. Downwardly-extending conicalshaped projections I8 are fashioned along the right-hand marginal section l6a of this top plate. These projections are adapted to be inserted into the sockets l4 when the section l6a overlaps the section Illa, and thus the two plates are detachably anchored together. At this time, the upper surfaces of the plates I0 and it are coplanularly disposed with respect to one another. 7 e

As disclosed in Figures 1 and 3, the terminal baking unit B further defines lateral marginal flangeportions l9 and an end fiangeportion 20. In reality, the portions l9 and 20 provide a continuous flange extending around two opposing sides and one end of the unit B. The lower end of the flange thus defined is turned back upon.

itself, as at 2|, to reinforce the unit B.

For the purpose of removably interconnecting the flanges I2 and I9 when the latter overlap the former, we provide vertical recesses 22 in the flanges I9, which snap over the ribs l5 previously mentioned. a v V The terminal baking unit C follows the same general construction as the unit B; accordingly, like reference numerals have been applied to corresponding parts. In this case, conicalshaped projections .23 on the right-hand marinal section Illa. of central unit A extend downwardly into upwardly-opening conical sockets 24 provided in the left-hand marginal section Ilia of the terminal unit C. The same rib l5 and recess 22 snap connection is provided between the flange portions 19 of the unit 0 and the,

flanges l2 of the unit A, as described hereinbefore.

When the units A and B are interconnected,

the flanges I2 on the former are arranged coextend inwardly relative to the baking u i desired; this would amount to mere reversal of the directions in which these parts extend in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawing Summary Having thus described the various parts 0 fi our multiple-unit muflin pan, the assemblingand use thereof are summarized briefly as *follows: Assuming that six muffins are to be baked,

' theunits'A, B and C are selected. In'attaching 'th "units A'and -B togetherfthe top plate It Bf the unit B is 'brought into overlapping relation with respect to the top plate of 'the'unit A, and the projections l8 are inserted into the "sockets l4 '(s'ee'dot-dash lines in Figure 4).

Nowthe plate 1'6 is swung downwardly until upper surface is disposed in the plane of the plate I'D; At the same time, the vertical recesses "ZZ are snapped over the ribs I15; Thus the 'over- "iapped'sections 10a; and lfia are detachably anchor'd together by the projections l8 'andsock- ":ets l' l, while the flanges 12 and [9 are removably "int'erconnected by the ribs l5 and recesses 22 (see Figure 6) In a like manner, the terminal unit C is con- I "It is quite apparent that the terminal units B fang'i C 'mayb'e connected-directly together, omitting 'the'central unit A, "in which case the pro- 1 Sections l8w ould"flt into the sockets '26. Also, additionalcen'tral units 0 rhay be-added to*en-. "'lai'g'et'li'e pan. From Figure'4,- it willf'be seen i that thecentral baking unit -A iis'provid'ed with pliirality -ofconical-shaped sockets I i along 'fit'sjleftha'nd section lta,vvhile thejopposite'secktion "'llla'is iashioned with' a plurality of izlepending conical-shaped projections 23 arranged ftlfe'realong Theiflafiges 1;, 1-9 and jzu provide px ii e' ap n endi if lvfm 'l r m'e er 2 th assembl j z' en fivhlch slopes outwardly to permit easy cleaning j thereon 1. In'a multiple-unit panz atf l'easta' flanges, respectively, of the other "unit; means 4 for detachably anchoring the overlapped top plates together; and means removably interconnecting the overlapped flanges.

2. In a multiple-unit muffinv pan: at least a pair of baking units defining mufiin receptacles; each unit providing a top plate having marginal flanges depending therefrom; the top plate and flanges of one unit being telesc'oped and overlapped relative to the top plate and flanges,

respectively, of the other unit; means for detachably anchoring the overlapped top plates together; and means removably interconnecting the "overlapped flanges; the outer surface of each "overlapped pair of flanges being coplanularly disposed with-respect to each other.

7 3. In a multiple-unit muflin pan: at least a pairof baking units defining muifin receptacles; each unit providing a top plate having marginal flanges depending'therefrom; the "top plate and flanges of one u'n'it being telescoped and overlapped relative to the top plate and flanges, respectively, of the'oth'r unit; ineans for detachably anchoring the overlapped top plates together; and means removably finterconnecting the overlapped flanges; the flanges extending downwardly and outwardly relative to the top plates Off'th units.

4. In a multiple-'unitmufin a-n at lea'st:-a pair of baking units definingmuiii'n"receptacles; each unit providing a top platehavin'g' 'rnarginal flanges depending:therefrdm fthe top plate and flanges of one unit being tele's'coped and overlapped rem-five to the toppiate and" flanges. e p vely, of the other-unit; interflttin mealhs for detachably anchoring the *ever1appea 'top plates together; and snap-means removably i'nterconnecting the overlapped flanges.

5. In a multiple-unit imlfiin p'a iitat least a pair of baking units defining mufiin recepta'cles; each unit providing 'a to plate man frnar"giz i'al flanges depending therefromfthe 'tep plate-and flanges of one nnit tangents-capes and overlapped relative to "the top "plate and pans-cs, respectively, of the otlier nnit; theftt'ip plate or one unit having abwnwardiy erteming "ockets therein the "top plate 6f the" etlfr un t vih'g projections thereon r'eniovamy"-aisposed' m the sockets; the flanges of one um-tterng fashibned with ribs extending therefrom; and the flanges of the other unit having recesses snapped over the ribs. I} 7 1;. WICGLAIN. DOROTHY J. 5 *MCGEAI-N.

. REFERENCES CITED V UNITED STA'I-ES 

